The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has planned to set up 200 ‘Van Dhan’ producer companies in all the 27 states in the next five years with priority to the Aspirational Districts under the Van Dhan programme Aspirational Districts are those districts in India that are affected by poor socio-economic indicators. The Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ Programme (TADP) is being anchored by the NITI Aayog at …

Recently, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the 2nd phase of the SAMVAD programme. The second phase was launched on the completion of one year of programme. The programme is aimed at mental health outreach for children who are abandoned and orphaned, child survivors of trafficking, or in conflict with law. Earlier, the government …

Recently, India organized the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Tourism Ministers’ virtual meeting. India is the current IBSA Chair. Important points: The IBSA is a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South cooperation and exchange. The idea of South-South Cooperation (SSC) is not new. Its genesis can be traced …

Recently, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad has launched a chip called IndiGau. It is India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc. NIAB is an Indian autonomous research establishment of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology. Important points: IndiGau …

Recently, Bihar has decided to tag greater adjutant storks locally known as ‘Garuda’ with GPS trackers to monitor their movement as part of efforts to conserve them. Important points: Leptoptilos dubius The greater adjutant is a member of the stork family, Ciconiidae. There are about 20 species in the family. They are long-necked large birds. Once found across South and Southeast Asia, the …

Every year, International Youth Day is observed on 12th August to recognise and bring attention to the problems faced by the youth. National Youth Day is held every year on 12th January to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Important points: In 1999, the United Nations decided to commemorate International Youth Day every year on this day. It was based …

Recently, Prime Minister (PM) of India participated in ‘Atmanirbhar Narishakti se Samvad’ and interacted with women Self Help Group (SHG) members promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) Important points: The PM lauded the Self-Help Groups of women for their unprecedented services during the Covid-19 period. For example, women’s unparalleled contribution in making masks …

Recently, four more Indian sites – two each from Haryana and Gujarat – have been recognised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Further, according to recent estimates by Wetlands International South Asia, nearly 30% of the natural wetlands in India have been lost in the last three decades. Majorly, the loss of Wetlands is more …

Recently, the Ministry Of Environment Forest And Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021. These rules prohibit specific single-use plastic items which have “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022. Important points: The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the identified single-use plastic will be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022. The …

Recently, the Prime Minister while addressing the Investor Summit in Gujarat via video conferencing launched the Vehicle Scrapping Policy/National Automobile Scrappage Policy. The Summit will invite investment for setting up vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the Vehicle Scrapping Policy. The Vehicle Scrapping Policy was announced in March 2021 by the government. The policy is estimated to cover 51 …

Recently, the Election Commission of India inaugurated the 11th Annual meeting of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of SouthAsia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2021. Important points: Election Commission of Bhutan. The Election Commission of India handed over the chairmanship of FEMBoSA role to the Election Commission of Bhutan for 2021-22. A resolution was unanimously adopted by …

On the occasion of World Elephant Day (12th August) the Union Environment Minister made public the population estimation protocol to be adopted in the all-India elephant and tiger population estimation in 2022. World Elephant Day was launched in 2012 to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. Important points: Current Data on Elephants in India: …

Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) suffered the loss of an important earth observation satellite (EOS-03) during launch when the GSLV rocket carrying it malfunctioned about five minutes from the lift-off. Earth Observation Satellites Earth observation satellites are the satellites equipped with remote sensing technology. Earth observation is the gathering of information about Earth’s physical, chemical and biological …

Recently, the Government of India introduced The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha which seeks to withdraw tax demands made using a 2012 retrospective legislation to tax the indirect transfer of Indian assets. The government has stressed the need to establish its sovereign right to taxation. Important points: Sovereignty, in political theory, means …

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed in the Lok Sabha that according to some reports some Rohingya migrants are indulging in illegal activities. The response came on the queries about the current situation of Rohingya living illegally in various parts of the country. Rohingya The Rohingya people are a stateless, Indo-Aryan ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. They are described by the …

Recently, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted the first-ever presidential statement on maritime security. India, as the UNSC president for August 2021, noted the threats to maritime safety and security and called upon the members to consider implementing the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. All the permanent members of UNSC (US, China, Russia, …

Recently, a dispute has erupted in Rajasthan over the hoisting of a flag on the statue of Rana Punja Bhil, a historical figure considered as a hero by the tribal Bhil community. After the Amagarh fort dispute, this is the second issue in Rajasthan within a month. Important points: He was a contemporary of 16th century ruler of Mewar, Maharana Pratap. …

Kaziranga has become the first in the country to use satellite phones, which are generally used by the law-enforcing agencies. The satellite phones will give an edge to the forest personnel over the poachers and also during emergencies like floods. The public is barred from using satellite phones in India. Satellite phones can connect from …

World Biofuel Day is observed on 10th August every year. It is observed to raise awareness of the importance of non-fossil fuels as a substitute for conventional fossil fuels. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in association with UNIDO (United Nations Development Industrial Organisation) and GEF (Global Environment Facility – a financial mechanism) launched two schemes on this occasion which are: Interest …

Recently, the Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) has shared some information regarding Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY). Earlier, MoFPI had launched the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. The key sub-segments of the Food Processing industry in India are Dairy, Fruits & Vegetables, Poultry …